Visit the Friendly Rivalry – Southampton!

There's more than just Varsity competitors in Southampton

The holidays are long gone and the university obligations and due dates are about to hit the fan. Spring semester has officially started.

Even though Portsmouth offers pretty much everything you could ask for as a student, for a good price, it is never a bad idea to explore some other places. So, if you are looking for a place you can visit in just one day whilst keeping it cheap and comfortable, Southampton is the ideal place.

Southampton is located right between Portsmouth and Bournemouth. The easiest way to get there is by train or coach, which both offer tickets for under £10 return.

It is traditionally known for its harbour port of the former British Empire and the intense overseas cruise traffic. Although much of Southampton’s historic medieval character was destroyed during the Second World War, it still has a preserved history to share.

If history is your thing, then the city of Southampton offers plenty; The Vaults, The Mayflower Monument and the Tudor House all give a taste of previous centuries and time gone by.

The Solar Sky Museum is also a well worth spot to visit due to its famous showcases of the history of aviation.

“For students, Switch and Oceana are arguably the best nightclubs”

If history isn’t quite your thing, then have no fear. Southampton also has a wide range of other attractions and activities to offer – Westquay Shopping Centre is a dream come true for many shopaholics. Thanks to its great selection of shops and restaurants, the shopping centre also includes a high-spec cinema with reclining seats, and a classic Hollywood Bowl that no shopping centre goes without, and could be a nice break from shopping ‘till you drop, or even just for some fun leisure time.

Located nearby the shopping centre is also an IKEA, which has pretty much everything for the home at a good price. It is also easy to access the shopping centre and IKEA with public transportation, which could come in handy after a long day of shopping.

Southampton is, like Portsmouth, a student city. If you, against all odds, would be tired of the party scene in Portsmouth, Southampton has an alternative nightlife that caters for most tastes.

There are traditional pubs, cocktail bars and nightclubs located in the city centre. For students, Switch and Oceana are arguably the best nightclubs, however, not quite as brilliant as the bars and clubs located on Guildhall Walk… although they are still definitely worth checking out.

Southampton is also well known for its Premier League club, The Saints. They play their home games at the St Mary’s Stadium, which is the largest football stadium in the south of England. The venue has hosted some notable matches but is also used as a common modern conference facility. It might be worth having a looking at their website for upcoming matches that they host.

Although there has always been a rivalry between Portsmouth and Southampton, it is notable though that Portsmouth has won most titles of the two teams.

Last but not least, Southampton has its own international airport with about 50 different destinations and about 12 different airlines. Thanks to the Southampton airport, if university is really taking its toll and a getaway is in desperate need, you can discover a whole lot of Europe by really extending that getaway.